Mobility Impairments
Since elevators should not be used for evacuation during a fire alarm, people with mobility impairments will need assistance evacuating the building unless on the ground floor. As people with mobility impairments have varying degrees of limitation, information is offered for the two possible scenarios.

1. People who are Non-Ambulatory
Evacuation of non-ambulatory people is complex. As soon as an alarm sounds, people using wheelchairs should proceed to an enclosed stairwell if possible until emergency personnel arrive and determine the necessity of evacuation. A Break Thru representative should be designated by the Fire Warden to inform emergency personnel of the person’s location. Whenever possible, someone should remain with the person with a disability.

To reduce the risk of injury, attempts to carry mobility-impaired people are discouraged and should not be attempted by anyone other than trained emergency personnel, except in the most extreme emergency. Again, in the case of a false alarm or a small isolated fire, it may not be necessary to risk a complicated evacuation, but only qualified emergency personnel should make that decision.

2. People who are Ambulatory
People with mobility limitations who are ambulatory may be able to negotiate stairs in an emergency situation with minor assistance. Some people who usually use a wheelchair or motorized scooter for long-distance travel may be able to walk independently in an emergency situation. If danger is eminent and the person is unable to walk down the stairs with some assistance, it is advisable that he or she wait until the heavy traffic has cleared before attempting to evacuate. Someone should walk beside the person to provide assistance. If it is apparent that there is no immediate danger (absence of smoke or fire), the person may choose to stay in the building until emergence personnel arrive and determine the necessity to evacuate.

Refuges
The refuge can be used as a safe resting place or as a place to wait until it is safe to exit the building.

When employees or clients with a disability are unable to use stairways without assistance it will be necessary to identify refuge areas. Refuge areas provide a place of relative safety before being assisted to a final exit.

Refuge areas can be an enclosure such as a compartment, lobby, corridor or stairway that can provide protection from fire and smoke.

Keep in mind that someone with a permanent or major impairment generally knows the best way to be assisted. A minute or so spent talking with the individual will give you crucial information.

People with Visual Impairments
Most people with visual impairments will be familiar with their immediate surroundings. In an emergency, tell the person with a visual impairment the nature of the emergency and offer to guide them to the nearest emergency exit. Have the person take your elbow and escort them out of the building. As you walk, tell the person where you are and advise of any obstacles. When you reach safety, orient the person to where they are and ask if any further assistance is needed.

People with Hearing Impairments
Some people with hearing impairments may not perceive emergency alarms and will need to be alerted to the situation. Emergency instructions can be given by gesturing or by a short explicit note. It is appropriate to offer assistance to a hearing-impaired person as you leave the building.

People with Learning Disabilities
Persons with learning disabilities may have difficulty in recognizing or being motivated to act in an emergency. They may also:

• have difficulty in responding to instructions which involve more than a small number of simple actions
• confused visual perception of written instructions or signs
• limited sense of direction (requiring someone to accompany them)
• need information to be broken down into simple steps. Be patient.

Evacuation Procedure for a Person with a Disability

• On activation of the emergency alarm, stop and collect belongings that may be required in the evacuation
• Remain at your work station if you require assistance
• Once your assistance arrives (or you don’t require assistance) make your way to a designated refuge point
• Remain at you refuge point with your assistant until it is safe to evacuate (where possible use communication at the refuge point to ascertain if an evacuation is required or if it’s a false alarm
• Once the area is clear if required with the support of your assistant make your way to the final exit of the building

Once outside the building you or your assistant must report your presence to the person in charge of the evacuation

Carrying Techniques for Non-Motorized Wheelchairs
These techniques only to be used in extreme emergencies where there is real threat to life.

One person carry technique:
The cradle lift is the preferred method when the person to be carried has no arm strength. The technique involved placing one hand under the knees of the sitting individual and the other behind the small of their back and lifting with your knees.

One-person assist:

• Grasp the pushing grips, if available.
• Stand one step above and behind the wheelchair.
• Tilt the wheelchair backward until a balance (fulcrum) is achieved.
• Keep your center of gravity low.
• Descend frontward.
• Let the back wheels gradually lower to the next step.

Two person carry techniques:

• The swing or chair carry
• Carriers stand on opposite sides of the individual.
• Take the arm on your side and wrap it around your shoulder.
• Grasp your carry partner’s forearm behind the person in the small of the back.
• Reach under the person’s knees to grasp the wrist of your carry partners other hand.
• Both carry partners should then lean in, close to the person, and lift on the count of three.
• Continue pressing into the person being carried for additional support in the carry.

Two-person assist:

• Positioning of second rescuer:
• Stand in front of the wheelchair.
• Face the wheelchair.
• Stand one, two, or three steps down (depending on the height of the other rescuer).
• Grasp the frame of the wheelchair.
• Push into the wheelchair.
• Descend the stairs backward.

Motorized Wheelchairs:

• Motorized wheelchairs may weigh up to 100 pounds unoccupied, and may be longer than manual wheelchairs. Lifting a motorized wheelchair and user up or down stairs requires two to four people.
• People in motorized wheelchairs probably know their equipment much better than you do! Before lifting, ask about heavy chair parts that can be temporarily detached, how you should position yourselves, where you should grab hold, and what, if any, angle to tip the chair backward.
• Turn the wheelchairs power off before lifting it.

Most people who use motorized wheelchairs have limited arm and hand motion. Ask if they have any special requirements for being transported down the stairs.

If you have a comment or an experience please feel free to share it with us.

Get up and move away! Get some blood flow happening through your lower back and limbs. If you are physically challenged and use a wheelchair, please still move away from that computer screen. 

I take stretch breaks and jump around like a bunny rabbit that’s had too much caffeine during my short breaks. At first I did receive the occasional odd look, but now everyone seems to have accepted the behaviour. And I’ve noticed that some are timing their own break sessions by me (althought I must admit they do tend to partake in their break in a somewhat more dignified manner).

Your ‘break’ may still be work-related – simply moving onto another part of your job, leaving keyboard entry for a few minutes (or more) to perhaps photocopy something, file, make that phone call that needs to be made, find that particular topic you’re researching in a manual, or simply tidy up your desk or workspace. Remember, housekeeping is another very important aspect to maintaining a safe work environment.

Or, you may simply have a break – go out and take a deep breath of fresh air or maybe chat with another worker and have a good laugh. The purpose of the break is to not only give your body some ‘time-out’, but also your mind. A healthy mind supports a healthy body. A healthy body and mind supports a healthy work attitude. A healthy work attitude means better production, less down-time, and less work related accidents.

During your break you may even benefit from a drink and something to nibble on. I keep a bottle of water at the end of my work station and a bottle of muesli slices, which I snack on during the day. I don’t seem to suffer from fatigue or tension in my back or shoulders – or bottom (and I believe that not only the stretch breaks, good nourishment and correct setup in my seat are responsible, but also the cushion I have on my workseat – and I’ll tell you about that in a future article).

Now, I’m not suggesting you rush out every five minutes and have a cup of coffee and a cookie… when would we ever get any work done?

Check your own relevant state or territory for details of the recommended break times, but in our office I incorporate a conscious, mandatory break in my own schedule every hour. The truth is I ‘break’ much more often than that as I carry out other work related activities, be it filing, taking a phone call, jotting something on our whiteboard or helping a colleague.

Do a little research on stretching exercises that you might benefit from that will help to alleviate any tension in muscles or tendons that your job may be causing, and incorporate them in your daily work schedule.

Remember to break up activities – not only will your body benefit, you’ll feel rejuvenated and able to concentrate on each aspect of your job, helping you to keep safety a primary focus.

I recently had someone ask me about yoga at work.  She mentioned the potential for injuries on the job, asked about where the liability falls if an employee is injured and requested tips on how to ensure a safe workplace when offering an at work wellness program such as yoga.

Pro versus Con
Every physical activity poses some risk, to be sure; however, in a well implemented at work fitness or wellness program the potential benefit to employees and the employer (through increased productivity, heightened mood, less sick time and absenteeism) far outweigh the risks. A study by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that nearly half of large US employers (100+ lives) offer health promotion programs.  I like to point out that Recess has several large clients in traditionally risk averse industries (law and insurance) who contract with Recess to provide fitness classes, personal trainers and other fitness and wellness services onsite for their employees.  Given these industries’ first-hand knowledge of the potential for liability, their understanding of wellness’ upside speaks volumes about what a positive impact wellness programs can have on work culture and employees’ lives.

Limiting Risk
That being said, no employer should be sloppy or negligent when implementing workplace wellness programs that could impact worker safety.  Smart employers will:

1. Look under the hood.  Evaluate the credentials and check references of their wellness contractor. Check to ensure your teacher has had a minimum of 200 hours of hands on training and experience along with some modicum of education on anatomy, physiology and kinesiology.  All instructors should have a valid CPR certification.  At Recess, we also require that instructors pursue continuing education and have had at least three years of teaching experience in the field with a variety of different client populations.
2. Try before you buy.  Negotiate a free or discounted class or classes in order to evaluate the contractor’s customer service skills and attention to safety of instruction.  See if you can observe or try a class and invite a couple of people you trust.  Ask those who attend about their experience.  Are people hurting, sore or exhausted after the class?  Or do they feel relaxed?  Did the teacher respect their level by giving modifications or did the teacher just forge ahead?  Did anyone feel the teacher pushes students to do things that make them feel physically or emotionally unsafe?  Does the teacher seem like a quack or just plain old dippy?  Trust your gut.  Look around until you find someone who you can trust and you can relate to and who places her students’ safety and growth in a place of obvious and high esteem. 
3. Take precautions.  Ensure that students complete emergency medical information sheets and waivers before class (your contractor can provide these) and that completed forms are kept in a place that the instructor can reference easily in case of emergency.
4. Keep your eye on the road.  Be forthright with employees about the tremendous benefits of exercise and don’t overhype the risk.  That being said, while extolling the virtues of exercise, also help people prepare to be safe.  Good risk prevention includes: encouraging employees to wear appropriate footwear and attire; make water and good ventilation key to avoid overheating; select a contractor who can provide proper instruction with exercise equipment and instruction on safe, active recovery when employees with injuries or medical conditions wish to become more active.

Liability- The Contractor’s Perspective
Reputable contractors can easily obtain general liability insurance and there are many such carriers who specialize in insuring contractors and studios in the fitness and wellness industry.  The policies cover suits brought by you or your employees (any students of the contractor) for any number of reasons including injury and sexual harassment. 

It is completely acceptable for you to ask a contractor to provide proof of such insurance including policy limits and expiration dates and for you to require in your contract that the contractor maintains and submits to you current insurance at specified levels of coverage.  You may also wish to specify that the contractor provide proof of workers compensation insurance in case one of their employees or subcontractors is injured while teaching the class.  Additionally adding a clause that requires the contractor to maintain appropriate levels of certification or training (such as teacher certification or CPR) would be a good idea.

Liability- The Employer’s Perspective
If the contractor is performing the services on your premises it is also your responsibility to maintain a clean and safe environment free from harassment in which the contractor can provide the services. 

Do you plan on providing equipment or will the contractor?  Most employers provide the exercise equipment used in classes (though this can be minimal for most at work programs).  Create a check list and periodically ensure that the equipment is clean, structurally sound and not in a place where it poses a tripping hazard.  Keep hand sanitizer or sanitizing wipes in an obvious place to prevent the spread of germs. 

Take note of any non-complete clauses in your contract.  While not related to employee safety, soliciting a contractor’s employees or subcontractors is an area of potential liability.

The Bottom Line
This list should not instill fear in anyone looking to implement a wellness or fitness program on-site.  Such programs can be easily managed by reputable contractors or in-house staff given proper planning and attention prior to actually starting the program.  Most people spend the majority of their waking hours at work.  Offering means for employees to engage in healthy behavior and manage stress at work is a meaningful and practical way for people to enrich their lives.  When something as simple as walking three hours a week cuts the risk of dying from breast cancer in half, how can you not choose to help employees get serious about transforming their health?